Cider Watch: Kiesy continues blistering T20 form in South Africa

Craig Kieswetter blasted 51 runs off just 38 balls during his debut for the Chevrolet Warriors in South Africa’s Ram Slam T20 Challenge on Sunday.

Continuing his blistering form from the English T20 season with Somerset, Kiesy hit five fours and three sixes as Warriors set off in pursuit of the Knights’ commanding total of 205-5.

However, needing to score at 10.2 runs per over, Warriors never really recovered from losing Jon-Jon Smuts and their skipper (2014 Somerset overseas player) Colin Ingram for just nine runs inside two overs at the start of the innings. After Kieswetter’s onslaught, wickets fell at regular intervals before they were eventually dismissed for 131 in 18.5 overs.

Earlier Diego Rosier put the Knights’ total out of reach by smashing an unbeaten 55 off just 27 balls (6×4, 2×6) in the closing stages of their innings.

Craig is in action for the Warriors again tomorrow (Wednesday) against the Dolphins before playing Alviro Petersen’s Lions on Friday.

The Knights v Warriors game was just the first of a T20 triple-header at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on Sunday, with two other matches involving several former Somerset overseas players.

Cape Cobras v Titans

Former Somerset T20 batsman Richard Levi struck 81 off just 35 balls at an incredible strike rate of 238 (7×4, 7×6) at the start of Cape Cobras’ innings against Titans, whose attack included two other former Somerset overseas stars Roelof van der Merwe and Dean Elgar.

Another County Ground favourite Kieron Pollard made sure the Cobras posted a formidable total, hitting an unbeaten 72 off just 36 balls at a scarcely less attacking strike rate of 200 (6×4, 4×6) to take his side to 207-5 inside their 20 overs.

Before Pollard’s fireworks at the end of the innings, both van der Merwe (3-0-14-0) and Dean Elgar bowled tidily, with Elgar picking up three wickets for 20 runs in his four overs.

Titans made a decent stab at chasing down their target with both Elgar and captain Henry Davids making 72 off 48 balls at the top of the order and sharing a stand worth 151 inside 15 overs. However the momentum was arrested when both were removed by Pollard in consecutive overs and with Pollard picking up his third wicket (3-22), West Indian teammate Darren Sammy shortly afterwards for just 1, Titans eventually fell 14 runs short of Cobra’s total for the loss of four wickets. van der Merwe finished 10 not out.

There should of course have been a further Somerset connection in this game had Alfonso Thomas’s broken ankle not ruled him out of playing for Cape Cobras this season.